The experts dish their tips on preparing for overnight guests this holiday season.

Family visiting from out of town? Party people celebrated too hard and need a place to crash? Here's an expert advice on how to always be ready for overnighters.

HOW TO DECORATE THE PERFECT GUEST ROOM

From the experts:

Martha Stewart

"You should sleep in your guest room one night to see what's missing or what will make it a nicer spot. I have a big house in Maine with 12 bedrooms, and I sleep in every one of them once a year to make sure they're comfortable."

Mark Hampton

"A writing table is a great convenience in a guest room - one might even say a necessity. Here the host can place some flowers from the garden, a few books, a bowl of fruit, a very good light and some writing paper in the drawer."

Rebeca Atwood

"A guest room can have your aesthetic preferences, but it should also address the care and welcoming feeling you want to extend... Keep guest room palettes graphic and simple and then add [pops of colour] with pillows and accessories that you can change as desired."

GUEST ROOM ESSENTIALS

• Flowers: Fresh blooms will brighten anyone's day.
• Writing desk: A small desk by a window offers a private place for company to check emails.
• Books: Have a few favourite books on hand so guests can unwind when they have some downtime.